Variable gear for bicycles



No. 626,257. Patented June 6, I899. A. L. WHIPPLE.

VARIABLE GEAR FOR BICYCLES.

(Application filed Mar. 3, 1898.)

N0 Model.) 3 Sheets-8heet l.

woanboz:

' ywwdwu/m awnings.

within? n1: uORRIS PETERS c0, mow-urns" wAsnmm'cu, a. c.

No. 626,257. Patantad June 6, I899.

A. L. WHIPPLE'...

VARIABLE GEAR FDR B'IGYG'LESL.

[Application filed Mar. 3, 18982.) (No Model) 3 Sheets-8heet 2.

I 1 l I No. 626,257. Patented June 6, I899. A. L. WHIPPLE.

VARIABLE GEAR FOB BICYGLES.

(Application filed Mar. 3, 1898.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

ILQINIBI I i"- ll- 4 IHEIIISHIMMQ Nonms Pun c0, PrlOTD-UYHO mswmomw, n. r,

Nrrn

ALFRED L. \VIIIPPLE, OF LISBON, NORTH DAKOTA.

VAREABLE GEAR FOR B ICYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 626,257, dated June 6, 1899.

Application filed March 3, 1898. Serial No. 672,618. No model.)

To (Z5 whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED L. WHIPPLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lisbon, in the county of Ransom and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Variable Gear for Bicycles; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in variable-speed gearing for bicycles; and the object is to provide a simple, inexpensive, effective, and durable device for this purpose.

To this end the invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of the several parts of the device, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

The accompanying drawings show my invention in the best form 110 w known to me; but many changes in the details might be made within the skill of a good mechanic without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the claim at the end of this specification.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts of the invention.

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a bicycle embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section. Fig. 4 is a detail section of the device for locking the clutchlevers. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of the clutches, and Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail View showing the reversely-beveled faces of the sprocket-wheels 13 and 15.

1 denotes the seat-post tube or mast; 2 2, the back forks; 3, the crank-shaft hanger; 4 4, the backstays, and 5 the'rear axle.

6 represents the rear hub, to which the rear wheel is fixed in the usual manner, and it is formed with an annular series of parallel grooves 7 7 to receive the clutch-bars 8 8.

The outer ends of these bars each terminate in a toe 9, and 10 12 denote V-shaped collars encompassing said clutch-bars and permanentlyfixed to them, so that when said collars are moved laterally the bars will slide longitudinally in the grooves in the hub.

13 denotes a small sprocket-wheel loosely journaled 011 the left-hand end of the rear axle between the rear brace 4 and fork 2, and the contiguous end of the hub and its inner face are formed with an annular series of clutch-lugs, (not shown,) which are adapted to engage the contiguous toes 9 9 on that end of the clutch-bars 8 8, so as to lock said sprocketwheel to the hub.

15 denotes a larger sprocket correspondingly arranged on the right-hand end of the rear axle between the rear brace and fork and the contiguous end of the hub, and its inner face is formed with a concentric series of clutch-lugs 16 16,which are adapted to engage the contiguous toes on that end of the bars 8 S.

17 and 1S denote the clutch-levers, inde- ,pendently fulcrumed on the bolts 19 and 20 on the backstays 4 4, respectively, the lower bifucated end of the lever 17 terminating in V-shaped jaws 21 21, which encompass the collar 10, and the corresponding end of the lever 18 in similar jaws 22 22, which encompass the collar 12.

The upper ends of the levers 17 and 18 terminate in parallel arms 23 24, semicircular in cross-section and having their parallel plane faces abutting, and both arms are encompassed by a cylindrical cap 25, closed at its upper end. This cap is in turn encompassed by a sleeve 26, formed with a solid conical head 27, and 28 denotes a helical spring arranged between the closed end of the cap 25 and the inner face of the head 27.

The conical head 27 is formed with a V- shaped groove 29, which is adapted to engage either of the three V-shaped teeth 31, 32, or 33, fixed in the transverse guard or hood 30, secured to the mast or seat-post tube, so as to retain the levers 17 and 18 in either one of the corresponding positions to which they may be adjusted.

34 represents a handle fixed to and extending rearwardly from the sleeve 26, by means of which said sleeve may be conveniently manipulated.

35 and 36 denote sprocket-wheels on the crank-shaft 37, and 38 represents the endless sprocket-chain, extending from the sprocketwheel 35 to the rear left-hand sprocket-wheel 13, and 39 denotes a similar chain connecting the sprocket-wheels 36 and 15.

As shown in Fig. 1, the levers 17 and 18 are set midway of their throw and are held in this his machine.

position by the sleeve 26 engaging the middle tooth 32 in theguard or hood 30, and when the levers are locked in this position the clutch-bars are out of engagement with both of the rear sprocket-wheels and which would be the position of the levers when the rider is coasting, the pedals performing the office of foot-rests. If, however, the rider wishes to climb a hill, he reaches under the seat, grasps the handle 34, presses it down to release the It will be observed that the large and small sprocket-Wheels may be fixed on the crankshaft, while sprocket-wheels of the same diameter may be mounted on the rear axle, or,

if preferred, the large and small sprocketwheels on the axle may be geared to corresponding small and large sprocket-wheels on the axle.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is The combination in a bicycle, of the backstays and forks, the seat-post tube and the rear axle with the longitudinally-grooved hub loosely mounted on said axle, the clutch-bars sliding in saidgr'ooves, the collars connecting said bars, the sprocket-wheels loosely mounted on said axle and formed with clutch-lugs on their inner faces, the clutch-levers fullcrumed on said backstays, and having their lower ends engaging said collars, and their upper ends terminating in parallel arms, a cap encompassing said arms, a spring-actuated sleeve encompassing said cap, a locking-' slot in its head, and a transverse hood fixed to said seat-post tube and encompassing said sleeve, and formed with a series of fixed teeth adapted to engage said locking-slot in said sleeve, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED L. WVHIPPLE.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. LOZIER, WARREN D. PALMETIN. 

